Me, Anna, and Suzanne at Anna's baptism  

                Yahoo!!  Our family had a great weekend – we celebrated Anna’s baptism.  I have a baptized a lot of people over the years, and it is always a good time.  But there is something special about baptizing your own children.

                It was a big weekend for our church.  We started our second service to both encourage growth in our church and also to make sure that there is ample space for people to minister in their gifts.  Along with that, we had our baptism service.  Since our church is only a block from the river, it is convenient to be able to walk down there for our baptism.

                For Anna, she has been discussing getting baptized for about a year.  When we talked to her about the upcoming baptism, she was really happy that the opportunity had finally come.  She has walked out her faith with genuine sincerity.  At times, she has shown wonderful spiritual insight when we talk with her and pray together. 

                Sunday morning dawned with a bit of overcast, but it is always warm here in our corner of Brazil.  We met at the church with nine others people who also were going to receive baptism.  There also were people from the different home groups in the church along for the celebration and we walked down to the river together.  As the new believers lined up for the baptism, I was out in the water waiting for them.  It was great to see the joy on everyone’s faces, but especially on my own daughter.  It is definitely a good time when we can celebrate with our children as they move ahead in their walk of faith.  

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The group of new believers who received baptism

Along the river's edge right after the baptism